The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 04-04-17

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From: The Hellenic Radio (ERA) <www.ert.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] Palestinian bomber explodes at Erez checkpoint

A Palestinian suicide bomber blew himself up today at the Erez checkpoint on Israels border with the Gaza Strip. The military said four security officers were injured in the blast, which occurred days after Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon won the endorsement of the United States for a plan to unilaterally pullout of the Gaza Strip.

[02] Two Japanese hostages freed in Iraq, Falluja calm

Kidnappers freed two Japanese hostages in Baghdad today, a day after a captured U.S. soldier was paraded in footage on an Arab television channel. Guns fell silent in Falluja, west of Baghdad, where air strikes and clashes have punctuated a shaky truce, but a U.S. spokesman said time was running out for talks aimed at ending fighting between rebels and U.S. Marines.

[03] PM's consultations in view of IOC pres. arrival next week

Prime Minister Karamanlis held consecutive meetings today with the ministers of transport, economy, public order and alternate culture minister in order to closely examine issues pertaining primarily to the Olympic Games, in view of Mondays visit by IOC president, Jaques Roggue. According to alternate culture minister, Fani Palli Petralia, the Calatrava roofs installation at the Olympic Stadium will begin on April 25th.

[04] Greek PM to meet with Turksih counterpart in Sarajevo

The developments in the Cyprus issue will be discussed between Greek Prime Minister, Kostas Karmanlis and his Turkish counterpart, Tayip Erdogan next Wednesday, three days prior to the referenda, on the sidelines of the conference for cooperation in South eastern Europe to be held in Sarajevo.

[05] New UN operations on Cyprus

The U.N. Security Council said Friday it was ready to establish a new operation on Cyprus should Greek and Turkish Cypriots approve a reunification plan for the island. The council also welcomed the results of a pre-donors conference held in Brussels, Belgium, on Thursday that saw the United States pledge US$400 million toward relocation and compensation costs. The European Union has already budgeted 300 million euro in aid over three years should the plan submitted by U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan be approved in separate referendums held on April 24. In an interview to Net radio, U.N. special envoy, Alvaro DeSoto underlined that UN troops on Cyprus would oversee the institutional reforms on the island.

[06] Key Turkish Cypriot leader withholds stance on UN plan

Turkish Cypriot Foreign Minister Serdar Denktash said his party would not take a stance on an upcoming referendum on a U.N. process to reunite Cyprus but signalled he did not back the plan. U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell has urged both Greek and Turkish Cypriots to back the plan in the April 24th referendums or risk squandering a rare opportunity for peace.

[07] Largest Greek Cypriot party may back unity vote

The leader of the largest Greek Cypriot political party said on Friday it might be willing to back a United Nations peace plan for the island if it was guaranteed by the U.N. Security Council and the European Union. Demetris Christofias, general-secretary of left-wing AKEL party, said he would not be satisfied with "just statements" from the Security Council but wanted something "more tangible".

The president of the Cypriot Parliament will meet with Cypriot president, Tasos Papadopoulos this evening.

[08] Weather Forecast

Clouds, rain and sporadic showers are forecast in the west, central and northern regions and the islands of the eastern Aegean and the Dodekanese. Temperatures in Athens will range between 11-20 C and in Thessaloniki from 9-18 C.

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